Mold.



P. Z. FUNK.

mow.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15. 1918 1,294,254. Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

V 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

N I H I 5' :1 k l i1 if m I 1 m. HHM' ,f] r Qwlllll IHHUHHI I i m/ Zfm WITNESSES ATTORNEY F. Z. FUNK.

MOLD.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5. 1913.

1,294,254. Patented Feb. 11,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WH HHI INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL Z. FUNK, OF JEROMEVILLE, OHIO.

MOLD.

Application filed May 15, 1918.

and useful Improvements in Molds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to molds, and more particularly to a mold especially adapted for casting articles of concrete and other plastic material.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a form of the character stated of simple construction and operation so constructed as to permit a number of units to be assembled in a group or battery for casting a number of articles simultaneously. A further object is to provide a mold comprising a collapsible core, and an outer casing which supports this core and is formed of a plurality of members so connected as to be readily disassembled or set up. An other object is to provide a mold the various parts of which may be readily formed by stamping and bending from sheet metal of suitable gage, thus insuring low cost of production. Further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a mold constructed in accordance with my invention, as used,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view partly in section,

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section,

Fig. 5 is an end view of a concrete block formed in the mold,

Fig. 6 is a detail of the means for expanding and collapsing the mold core.

The outer casing or body of the mold is of substantially rectangular cross section and is formed of side plates 1, bottom plates 2, and end plates 3. Each of the side plates 1 is turned over at its inner end to provide an outer annular flange, 4 having a depending inwardly directed arm 5, the members 4 and 5 forming a downwardly tapering bead. The lower end of member 5 is so spaced from the outer face of plate 1 as to provide a slot or opening which snugly receives a vertical flange G'formed at the end of end plate 3. Each end plate is provided, at each end, with a head which forms outwardly directed flanges projecting to each Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

Serial No. 234,746.

side of the end plates, these flanges acting to suspend the side plates 1 in the manner illustrated. These side plates are provided, at their lower edges, with integral inwardly directed horizontal flanges 7 which fit beneath and support the bottom plate 2. By this arrangement the side plates and the bottom plate are suspended from the end plates, and all of these members are so connected as to be readily disassembled, or assembled, as desired.

In connection with the outer casing or body described, I employ a core indicated generally by 8. This core is of substantially rectangular cross section and is composed of a plurality of, in this case 6, plates which are hingedly secured together. The top and bottom of the core are each formed of a single plate 9 andlO, respectively, the sides being formed from two plates 11 and 12 which are hingedly secured together at the center of each side and are hingedly secured to the edges of the top and bottom plates, An arm '13 is pivotally secured at its outer end on the inner face of each plate 11 adjacent the lower edge thereof. These arms project inwardly of the mold and have their overlapping inner ends pivotally secured together as at 14. Each arm 13 has a portion of its base which is mounted on the plate turned at right angles to provide an operating crank 15. By turning this crank, the arm 13 may be moved into or out of horizontal position. When the arms 13 are moved into horizontal position they are brought into alinement so as to extend'the toggle which is produced by these arms. This results in extending or straightening the sides of the core 50 as to hold it rigidly in position as illustrated in Fig. 3. In practice, the core in its collapsed condition will be placed in the mold, being inserted through suitable openings provided in the end plates 3 for this purpose. 'After the mold has been placed in proper position, the arms 13 are moved into horizontal position so as to expand the mold and hold it rigidly in shape, as illustrated. The cement mixture from which a block is to be formed is then poured into the mold about the core 8 and, after this mixture has started to set, the mold is then removed, the block formed being placed in a suitable shed to be cured. In removing the mold, the core is first collapsed by turning the arms 13 upward into substantially the position indicated in Fig. 3, thus forcing the sides ofthe mold toward each other and lowering the top and bottom plates. lVhen thus collapsed, the core may be readily removed, after which the end, bottom and side plates may be removed.

As will be noted, each side plate 1 is provided with a suitable groove or depres sion 1 and the end plateis provided with a substantially rectangular member 16 which forms projections extending beyond each.

face of this plate, this member corresponding in width to the distance between the inner face of element 1 of side plate 1 and the side face of the core 8. In practice, these projections form openings or hand holds through the sides of the block which is molded, as indicated by 17 in Fig. 5. The members 1 of the side plates 1 provide depressions or channels in the sides of the block which reduce the weight thereof without weakening the block formed. In laying them to be drawn into proper'relation when they are being laid.

In practice, the core 8-may be made of any desired or suitable length and inserted through a number of plates corresponding to the end plates 3 which are positioned at equal distances apart and support the side and bottom plates 1 and 2 in the manner previously described. This will be clear from Figs. 1, 2 and 4: of the drawings. In Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown two sections formed from the end plates and side plates secured together in the manner previously described, all of these plates being provided with suitable openings which are adapted to receive the core 8. By providing a core of suitable length, it is possible to form a mold which is divided into a number of sections or parts longitudinally, each part representing a space for forming or casting a block. This renders it possible to cast a comparatively great number of blocks simultaneously and by the use of but one mold so that, when these blocks have set for a short time, the molds may be readily disassembled and again set up and a second batch of blocks cast. By providing a suitable number of these molds, the blocks may be formed continuously in batches thus render ing it possible to produce agreat number:

plate 3*. The material is then poured, about the-mold between plate 3 and plate 8*, and

V the block thus produced will be similar to the outer blocks with the exception that it will be closed at one end by the materials which flows between the closure member or cap 8 of the mold and the central portion of plate 3. This renders it possible to produce block closed at one end and thus adapted for use as end blocks and for similarpurposes. It will be understood, of course, that the length of the side plates and bottom plate 2-may be varied, thus rendering it possible to produce blocks of different lengths for particular purposes.

In the molds thus produced, the core as well asthe bodyportion of the mold may be formed fromsheetmetal and therefore madeat very small cost. In addition, the

ide, end and bottom plates of the body of the mold are so connected and related as to do away with all necessity of supplemental securing means, thus producing a mold which may be readily assembled or disassembled and which requires no special tools for this purpose.

The foregoing description and the-drawings have reference torwhat may be considered the preferred, or approved form of invention. It is to be understood that I may make such changes in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, etc., as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the 1 appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mold of the character described, a casing comprising end plates provided at each end with vertically extending flanges, side plates provided at their upper edges with outwardly directed beads engaging over the flanges of the end plates so as to provided at their upper edges with out- .wardly directed beads engaging over the flanges of the end plates so as to detachably suspend the side plates from the end plates, said side plates being further providedvadjacent their lower edges with inwardly directed supporting flanges, a bottom plate supported by said flanges, and a collapsible core positioned within said casing and en tending through the openings in the end plates so that the end plates form a support therefor.

3. In a mold of the character described, a sectional casing and a core supported therein, said core comprising top and bottom plates, side plates hingedly connected to the Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the top and bottom plates, said side plates being formed in two sect-ions hinged at their meeting edges, a rod pivotally connected to one section of each side plate and the free ends of said rod being pivotally connected together, and a crank formed on one of said rods for operating the rod to collapse the core.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL Z. FUNK.

Witnesses:

HARRY B. EDMONSON, CLoYn M. Hosnnn.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

